September 1944

Western Europe

In the British 2nd Army area, clearing weather conditions permit the last serials of the US 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and the rest of the Polish 1st Brigade to be brought into Holland. The Polish forces land at Grave as reserve for the 82nd Airborne Division. Gen Dempsey orders that a fly-in of the British 52nd Division be held up.

In the I Airborne Corps area, aircraft and artillery of the XXX Corps help the 1st Airborne Division maintain the bridgehead at Hartestein, near Arnhem. During the night, about 250 Polish paratroopers cross with supplies for the 1st Airborne Division.

In the XXX Corps area, the 43rd Division continues efforts to break through to Driel and succeeds in getting additional elements there. One brigade drives into the outskirts of Elst. With the arrival of the Polish forces at Grave, the US 82nd Airborne Division releases the Coldstream Guards Group, which had been assisting it, to the Guards Armored Division. The 506th Parachute Infantry, US 101st Airborne Division, reopens the Veghel-Uden highway and makes contact with British armor moving to the southwest from Uden. The Germans continue attacks toward Veghel, although seriously threatened by the advance of the VIII Corps toward Helmond.

In the XX Corps area, the 7th Armored Division drops plans for crossing the Seille upon receiving orders to join the XIX Corps of the 1st Army. The 1st Battalion of the 10th Infantry, 5th Division, relieves the weakened 2nd Battalion at Pournoy-la-Chétive during the night. CCR, 6th Armored Division, is attached to the corps as a mobile reserve and moves to the Jarney area on the 24th.

In the XII Corps area, the 80th Division extends eastward in the center and on the right as the Germans withdraw, but they retain a hill mass east of Serrières. The 35th Division clears Bois de Faulx of German rear guards, capturing many. The 4th Armored Division rests after its lively tank battles.

In the XV Corps area, the 79th Division clears Forêt de Mondon, with the 3rd Battalion of the 314th Infantry having suffered heavily during frontal assaults. A French patrol crosses the La Vezouse River and takes Domjevin but the Germans restore their positions along the river. After nightfall, the final enemy remnants fall back across the river to organize a new defense line.

In the VI Corps area, the 157th Infantry of the 45th Division is unable to expand its bridgehead toward Giremont. The 179th Infantry takes Mossoux and cuts the road leading northwestward from there. The 180th clears that part of Epinal west of the Moselle and crosses at 3 points near there. The 36th Division's 142nd Infantry finishes clearing Remiremont and begins crossing the Moselle. Other elements of the division are pushing northward. The 7th Infantry, 3rd Division, reaches the Moselle across from Rupt and about midnight begins crossing over a bridge which is found to be intact.

Gen de Lattre revises his plan of attack as a result of Gen Truscott's decision to make the main effort with the US 7th Army while French force provides flank protection. He calls for an offensive limited in strength to one combat command of the French 1st Armored Division and RCT of the French 1st Infantry Division. The armor is to attack on an axis Mélisey-Le Thillot while the infantry conduct diversionary attacks.